Page:Narrative of an Official Visit to Guatemala.djvu/246

and heaping one remark upon another, like pieces of silk and fustian on a draper's counter: his tongue was as profuse as his memory was retentive. At last he came to a pause.—This is a man of considerable observation, thought I, and perhaps I could make him useful in my researches after the information I am obtaining; so looking at him with as much respect as I could assume, I said, "You have been a great traveller, sir, I see" "Yes, sir, I have, indeed", was his reply. "You took notes on your journeys, I presume." "Notes, sir, notes," as he regarded me with a look of mingled pity and perplexity, "no, sir," said he,—"I took nothing but dollars and doubloons."

It was now time to turn back. In passing through one of the lanes, I heard the sound of guitars, and tried to open a wicket, at which an old sow was standing, with her nose thrust through the bars: I could not displace her from her position without behaving towards her more severely than I